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Tuesday, 20 August 2013

SEPTEMBER 7TH! It's a Saturday! Mark your calenders for the next Handmade Arcade. Head down to the home of independent in McCoys Arcade and celebrate the local handi-craftyness of local makers and artists!

We'll have some music from local musicians arranged by the brilliant Exeter Local records - a roaming record store, selling some mighty fine tunes from local folk! A perfect backdrop for a late summer shopping trip!

We'll also be hosting some awesome local makers who you'll hear more from over the next few weeks!

Expect lots of brilliant locally made and carefully chosen Indie arts from bespoke glass beads to hand dyed and spun wool, unique jewellery, illustration and a host of wondrous things!

If you'd like to be involved and join the friendly Handmade Arcade community please do get in touch! We're specifically seeking photography, illustration, and small press as well as anything you wouldn't usually see at a craft fair!

Wednesday, 10 July 2013

Well it looks like our Handmade Arcade Game, Set and Match Wimbledon edition inspired the first British male winner of Wimbledon in over 70 years (in my mind anyway)!So what took place on a beautiful summer's day in the arcade? We had a selection of regular favourites and new comers to the arcade. Hepzibah McLeod brought along her stunning illustrations and cards. Of course I couldn't resist buying her Wimbledon inspired print.

Next to her was new comer to Handmade Arcade, Sarah from Magpie Millie with her vintage inspired jewellery pieces presented in gorgeous packaging.

The multi talented Ruvina brought along her unique fabric brooches as well as offering face painting.

No one could resist the lure of Kay's delicious cupcakes; the fresh ginger one was my favourite, indulgent and refreshing all at the same time.

A big thanks go to Andrew for arranging for the live music, to Tom for the PA and to Muncie Girls, SomeSort of Threat and Great Cynics for their live performances.

Gina from Ruby Horologie enjoyed the last Handmade Arcade so much that she returned to this month's market with her unusual and beautifully delicate jewellery made from re purposed watch parts. Ruby Horologie jewellery is also available from Good Golly Miss Molly.

All sorts of knitted and hand crafted loveliness was brought to Handmade Arcade by the fabulous Lisa from Storm in a Teacup including these needle rolls made from recycled vintage fabric ~ never misplace your knitting needles again!!New comer to the arcade was Ellie from Little Shop of Mirrors with her eclectic mix of handmade earrings and driftwood pieces.

If the stress of the Wimbledon finals got too much Isca Homeopathic Clinic were on hand to offer tennis ball massage and let people know about their affordable clinic based at the newly opened Community Centre on St David's Hill, Exeter. They also brought along some delicious strawberries and had fun in the pop up tennis photo booth (complete with their own ball boy)!

Registered charity no: 297798

Our photobooth was one of several activities which was raising money for local charity Hospiscare. Hospiscare offer an invaluable free of charge service to many people across Devon, supporting people with terminal illness and their families and carers.

Other fundraising activities included `Make Your Own Tennis Ball Pet' and `Guess the Name of the Tennis Ball Pet' which was won by C'mon Tim (a good omen me thinks).We literally squealed with excitement when we had this scrumptalicious strawberries and cream cake made for us by Cafe @ 36 with all proceeds going to the Hospice, modelled here by my lovely sister Vida who volunteered to help out for the day. Thanks sis and bro in law.

We teamed up with the BikeShed Theatre and Bar for this event. Alex from the Bikeshed kindly ran the table tennis tournament in the cafe bar while plying the players with Pimms and Lemonade (jealous). The winner, Patrick, can be seen here proudly showing off his winner's trophy which he received from last months' Handmade Aracade guest, Godzilla. Watch out for future table tennis tournaments at the BikeShed Theatre

If you have not yet been to the BikeShed Theatre we can highly recommend it for their innovative and accessible theatre performances in an intimate space. Theatre not your thing? Then enjoy home cooked food, cocktails or a beer while playing board games in the relaxed cafe bar or let your hair down to the live music and DJs on Friday and Saturday nights. Watch out for the new look theatre and bar when they reveal their refurb in September.A big thank you to everyone who was involved and came along to support local artists and makers as well as an important local charity.Normal service will resume with Nathan and Hayley for future Handmade Arcade shenanigans but we had a lot of fun as the guest organisers.Hope to see you all soon or pop in and say howdy to us in Good Golly Miss Molly.Cassie and Alex xx

Wednesday, 19 June 2013

I thought I would take a break from my first ever attempt to make a flyer using Photoshop to bring you updates on what is happening at the Handmade Arcade next month. On Saturday July 6th Handmade Arcade will be bringing you Games, Set and Match to celebrate Wimbledon finals weekend.

We will also be supporting a great local charity, Hospiscare, who support people with terminal illness and their families living in Exeter, East and Mid Devon. To find out more about the great work they do see their website: Hospiscare website

Registered charity no: 297798.

On the day we will have a fantastic selection of local creative people selling a mixture of handmade jewellery, art, vinyl and lots more unique things. Details of the sellers will be put on our Facebook page nearer the time: http://www.facebook.com/handmadearcadeexeter

As well as browsing the lovely items on sale why not try a tennis ball massage from the nice people at Isca Homeopathic Clinic who provide affordable treatments for all and are based at the newly re opened Exeter Community Centre . There will be a pop up photo booth with a selection of vintage tennis clothes and props to play around with.

Feeling competitive? The Bike Shed Theatre will be hosting a Table Tennis Tournament (donation to charity to play) as well as serving up (get it) a selection of home cooked food and lashings of delicious Pimms and Lemonade - yum!

More arty than sporty? You can add your creative flair to our collaborative art piece that will be made using tennis balls (yes really!) or have fun making a tennis ball pet.

We are grateful to David Lloyds gym in Exeter who have donated a load of used tennis balls to us for our activities.

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Next month we will be (temporarily) taking over Handmade Arcade from Hayley and Nathan at No Guts No Glory. For those of you that haven't already met us, my name is Cassie and along with my husband Alex are the new owners of Good Golly Miss Molly, a treasure trove of quality gifts and cards lovingly handmade in the UK.

Handmade Arcade brings you `Game, Set and Match'

The next Handmade Arcade will be held on Saturday 6th July and as this coincides with the finals weekend of Wimbledon there will be a tennis theme to the popular monthly market. As well as the usual spectacular array of indie art, jewellery, t shirts, treasures and trinkets on offer, expect strawberries and cream, live music and more iconic British summer fun and games. More details to come soon.

Monday, 3 June 2013

This Saturday we held our first ever retro Games Day in the Arcade outside the No Guts No Glory shop!

Adding to the vintage vibe of the building by filling it with collections of indie art, on offer from crafty hands, everything super affordable and lovingly made, tables filled with retro games - borrowed from our brilliant neighbour Lewis, who is new owner in residence at the glorious Otto Retro a great place for picking up some fabulous furnishings from a bygone era!

Godzilla came to visit from The Bike Shed Theatre - to spread news of a great deal of the mouthwatering lunch offerings - 20% off when you show what you bought at Handmade Arcade! Super.

The Arcade itself was subject to a yarn bombing by Lisa of The Knitting Tent, who I got to spend the day with on Friday helping spread swathes of brightly coloured yarns on chair legs, lamps and tables.

The knitted cafe will be up for the next month so pop down and savour the cosy colours of Devon's only yarn bombed Arcade!

Guest of Honour Lisa, also had a table on the day with heaps of knitted wonders.....

Origami Corner became filled with a landscape of mountain and valley folds, frogs and whales, all in aid of Exeter based charity The Magic Carpet!

Josie Maskell joined us from Plymouth where she's been a busy bee creating some very special illustrations and making them into pencil cases, purses, badges and stickers as well as cards and prints, Josie also took some beautiful pictures of the day which we have included in this post! Read a lovely little piece about the day (and admire her illustrations) on her blog!

Ruvina came to play with a multi talented showcase of unique hand crafted brooches made from the most beautiful fabrics, she also offered her hand to paint some faces with bright renditions of mermaids and jungle creatures!

Ruby Horologie, made these delicate steampunk inspired necklaces, as well as so many other adornments - subtle and elegant jewellery - which can now be found at the Arcades treasure trove Good Golly Miss Molly!

Pink or Blue? Of course I made vegan cupcakes!

Sarah McDonald also bought along some record clocks and a great selection of well curated badges!

Ben, Miles and Bevin came from a land not too far away (Plymouth) with an astounding amount of artwork! It was incredible to see, as were their faces all painted by the talented Ruvina! Hopefully we'll see them next time around in July! check out their great work in the meantime.
These guys totally made our day when they presented us with an amazing collaborative painting they'd been chipping away at - you will find it pinned up outside the NGNG shop - it's AMAZING.

Next door to these guys was another arty corner - Robin Doyle packed so much art onto his little table - the windows of mansons and beyond!

Garou came to Handmade Arcade for the first time with a beautiful bunch of flowers and some stunning and unusual pieces of handmade Jewellery - look out for Garou next month - she'll be back!

Common Goals celebrated a whole year of punk rock tees for charity! The sale of this t-shirt to Blanket Recordings Lewis - means that the project has raised a massive £1000 for charity in it's first year! How awesome is that?!

Speaking of birthdays our lovely friends The Spirit Forge were celebrating their 1st Birthday too! To mark the occasion they created some rather interesting trinkets and treasures including these bottled and wax sealed Vampire Fangs...

Heather from Little Owl Crafts is the BEST person to buy wool from - her wool is hand spun and dyed - it's just so beautiful...

Kezia and Erin had a very exciting stall, filled with tiny treasures - brilliant jewellery made from found things.... seriously wonderful! Watch out for an Etsy shop popping up soon from these guys so you can alway's get your hands on their distinctive work!

Madeleine Bunyan's beads are alway's so colourful and unique... she's been making new things again in her fire-room! Including these beautiful summery flowers that never need watering and were born from heat! Wow.

Some great guides from The Coffee Club Illustration Collective! Some can be found in the NGNG shop!

Alway's such a friendly atmosphere!

A few bugs and creatures have found their way into the Arcade lately..

Enjoying the games, milkshakes and ice cream sundaes on offer in the sunshine!

Aidan Simpson played the most incredible set for us - he has a record available from Blanket Recordings - which you should totally check out!

A game of Good old Top Trumps and a cuppa from McCoys Cafe!

Thanks so much if you made it down to witness all this talent and wonder! The next Handmade Arcade (Saturday 7th July) is being taken on by Cassie from Good Golly Miss Molly! So pop in and see her in her little shop for more details and snap up a stall while you still can, and find out more about her Wimbledon themed day!

We had such a great time this weekend, Handmade Arcade is a real testament to all the creativity in the area and it's so wonderful that we have the opportunity to put on these small but mighty fairs and really celebrate by bringing together such a wonderful bunch!

The brilliant collaborative piece created by the Plymouth gang!

Pop down and see us in the NGNG shop! we've got some exciting new things in the little shop and our about to launch a fantastic new website!